May 9th – The UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation’s (JCCF) signature event, Taste for a Cure, celebrated its 25th anniversary on Friday, April 29th at The Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel. During this special evening, the 2022 Gil Nickel Humanitarian Award was presented to Michael Thorn, President of Entertainment at FOX Entertainment, and Rob Wade, President of Alternative Entertainment & Specials at FOX Entertainment.
Gil Nickel passed away in 2003 of melanoma. After his passing, his wife Beth Nickel partnered with the V Foundation and started a fundraising campaign to fight melanoma and together they raised $1,000,000 and donated it to UCLA’s JCCF. The money was used to establish the V Foundation-Gil Nickel Family Fellowship in Melanoma Research which has contributed to groundbreaking advances in melanoma treatment. The JCCF introduced the Gil Nickel Humanitarian Award in 2004 where it was awarded to Gil posthumously, which has been given every year since its inception. Today, Erik Nickel serves on the board of the foundation.
The theme was “Celebrating 25 Years of Taste for a Cure,” and co-hosts were Rob Lowe, award-winning actor, producer, director, podcaster and star of FOX’s hit drama, “9-1-1: Lone Star” and Ken Jeong, award-winning comedian, actor, producer, writer, judge on FOX’s “The Masked Singer” and “I Can See Your Voice” host and producer.” The evening also featured a special performance by GRAMMY Award-winning artist Robin Thicke.
HONOREES: Michael Thorn, President of Entertainment at FOX Entertainment, and Rob Wade, President of Alternative Entertainment & Specials at FOX Entertainment.
About Far Niente Family of Wineries and Vineyards
Far Niente was established in Oakville, CA in 1885 and prospered until the onset of Prohibition in 1919, when the winery ceased operation and the estate was abandoned. Sixty years later, in 1979, the old stone shell of a winery underwent a three-year renovation, which restored the building to its original, 19th century grandeur. During restoration, the name “Far Niente,” which romantically translated means “without a care,” was found carved in stone on the front of the building.
Far Niente helped create the high-end Napa Valley wine market and has served as the benchmark wine estate for more than four decades. Dolce, the only North American winery devoted to a single late-harvest, botrytized Napa Valley wine was introduced in 1989. Nickel & Nickel, launched in 1997, is focused on producing single-vineyard, 100 percent varietal Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. EnRoute, established in 2007 in the Russian River Valley, is dedicated to the appellation’s Pinot Noir. Bella Union, devoted to Napa Valley Cabernet and located along Bella Oaks Lane in Rutherford, introduced its first wine with the 2012 vintage. Most recently, Post & Beam launched in 2020 with classic expressions of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Together, the wineries comprise the Far Niente Family of Wineries & Vineyards.
ABOUT THE UCLA JCCF
Founded in 1945, the UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation (JCCF) is the single most important vehicle for raising private funds for cancer research at UCLA. It supports a number of high priority cancer research efforts, focused on converting laboratory discoveries into more effective therapies for cancer patients. The UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center’s (JCCC) dedicated researchers are recognized as international leaders in the discovery of new and better ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer. In the past eight years, JCCC research has led to 18 FDA approvals for new cancer treatments. A remarkable achievement. For information on UCLA’s JCCF, please visit www.cancer.ucla.edu.
